The dried flakes shown above needed a reliable method to convey between the large sacks in which they’re delivered and the boilers into which they need to be added. The existing operation has been to have personnel cut open the bags and pour them into the boilers, but this method is taxing for the workers and results in significant fatigue throughout the day as well as spillage around the boilers. This facility needed a better way to move the corn flakes that was small enough to fit within the confined workspace and capable of quickly emptying the sacks over a distance of ~6.5 ft.

The corn flakes need to be conveyed from the sacks on the right to the boilers on the left.

This customer requested that the solution be made of 316 grade stainless steel, and that implementation and use be as simple as possible. With a bulk density of ~40 pounds/cubic foot, and merely a desire to move the material as fast as possible over this short distance, I directed them toward our 3” Stainless Steel Line Vac made of 316SS. To increase the conveyance in the application I also offered our service to convert our standard model 6066-316 Line Vac to a “High Power” unit by increasing the size of the generator holes.

Both of these solutions were deemed as viable because they both allow for fast emptying of the bags (we estimated between 1-2 minutes to completely empty a bag), little-to-no spillage, and far, far less fatigue on the workers in this area (the key driver for searching out a new method of material transfer.

The potential model numbers were presented to management for a purchasing decision. As this project moves forward, and even after the solution is installed, we’ll be available for product assistance and engineering support. If you have an application in need of a viable pneumatic conveyor, contact EXAIR. We’ll be happy to explore the application and offer any potential solutions.